We Build the LEGO Trotting Lantern, a 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration

LEGO's 2025 Lunar New Year (Year of the Snake) Collection: A Detailed Look at the Trotting Lantern

LEGO continues its Lunar New Year tradition with a captivating 2025 collection celebrating the Year of the Snake. This year features three sets, including a Lucky Cat and a Good Fortune set, but the standout piece is undoubtedly the intricately detailed Trotting Lantern (#80116), a replica of a traditional Han Dynasty lantern.

This 1295-piece marvel is more than meets the eye. The exterior alone is a testament to LEGO's design prowess, boasting extravagant detail. From hanging red lanterns to intricate gold accents and exquisitely rendered cloud and rock wall designs, every inch is meticulously crafted.

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The building process is a layered delight, starting with the core lantern and progressively adding increasingly intricate details. This layered approach evokes a similar sense of anticipation and joy found in the now-retired LEGO Carousel.

Inspired by historical lanterns, the LEGO version incorporates a clever mechanism. A rotating rod activates a light brick, illuminating a clear piece with a black-lined image, projecting it onto the lantern's side. While the advertised wall projection feature proved somewhat blurry, the rotating image within the lantern is a charming touch.

The true magic lies within. Opening the upper tier reveals three miniature dioramas: a dumpling stall, a decorations stall, and a shadow puppet theater—a delightful surprise hidden within the lantern's cylinder. The set includes five minifigures, one adorned in a snake costume, along with accessories like dumplings, a red envelope, a shadow puppet, and chopsticks.

Ultimately, the appeal of this set hinges on your priorities. While the light-up, rotating feature might not justify the price for some, the stunning aesthetics and hidden miniature scenes make it a captivating Lunar New Year celebration. Though rated for ages 9+, the complexity suggests a more mature building experience.

The LEGO Trotting Lantern (#80116) retails for $129.99 and is available now at Amazon and the LEGO Store.